Addressing a Cover Letter with an unknown recipient?Posted by fillmoregandt on 12/10/12 at 2:04 pm

00

What's the best way to address a cover letter when submitting a résumé blind without knowing the name or the title of the person reading it? "To whom it may concern" sounds almost too cliche and formal, as does "Dear Sir or Madam". Can I leave it off altogether?

Obviously if I knew Bob Smith was the one reading it, I could come up with something. But what's the best way to answer one without sounding too bland and unoriginal

re: Addressing a Cover Letter with an unknown recipient?Posted by rmc on 12/10/12 at 2:18 pm to fillmoregandt

quote:Can I leave it off altogether?

I probably wouldn't. I use sir/madam whenever I am writing to an unknown person, which happens several times a week. Having said that, my letters are to persons at large entities who could give a shite less what the salulation says.

re: Addressing a Cover Letter with an unknown recipient?Posted by NC_Tigah on 12/10/12 at 6:07 pm to fillmoregandt

"To Whom It May Concern" would be my generic recommendation. (although my original typo "To Whom I May Concern" might actually be an attention getter )

I've received "Dear Sir/Madam" previously. The combination of "Dear" with a generic salutation comes across as disingenuous to me.

If you can determine the first considering level of contact. E.g., name(s) obtained through Human Resources, use the name of a person(s) likely to first act on your letter. Address it to that individual. If there is more than one possibility, send multiple letters.

re: Addressing a Cover Letter with an unknown recipient?Posted by foshizzle on 12/10/12 at 9:46 pm to fillmoregandt

Cover letters are old advice but honestly most HR departments completely ignore them. I've interviewed people for nearly ten years now and haven't seen a cover letter yet b/c HR tosses them. I wish they'd do a better job tossing some of the resumes but that's a different topic.

I can see where one might help if you're applying for a tiny firm where the owner makes all the decisions but otherwise you're wasting time. If you feel like you have to write one just say "To whom it may concern" or some such, if your resume doesn't stand out on its own the cover letter (much less your salutation) will not save you.